Valve



Feb. 1, 1938. A. J. HENDERSON VALVE.

Filed Sept. 11, 1935 INVENTOR.

' Patented Feh..1,1938 1 2,107,182

UNITED STATES'PATENT OFFICE VALVE Albert J. Henderson, Hempfield Township, Westmoreland County, Pa., assignor to Walworth Patents Inc., Boston, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application September 11, 1935, Serial No. 40,084

' Claims. (01. 251-93) This invention relates to valves and more parutilize the invention which thus has a wide fieldticularly to lubricated valves. It is particularly of application. adapted, although not limited, for services where Referring more particularly to the drawing, high line pressures are encountered. Under such the lubricated plug valve shown therein may i 5 circumstances the valve member tends to move comprise a body member Ill having hollow end 5 bodily or tilt in its seat toward the downstream portions II and I2 providing a pair of passageslde of the valve body when in closed position ways for line fluid which may be threaded as and thus hear more heavily on one side than ont I (Fi to receive p p i n The the other. In order to lubricate the valve in fluid passages are intersected by a tap e -valve this condition the lubricant should be fed only t i which is seated a taper d plug mem- 1 to the seating surfaces on the downstream side e having a P 20 therethrough w ch s of the valve, otherwise, the lubricant pressure adapted t register w the p eway in the will be dissipated and the lubricant wasted by dy w t v v is in p p sit on. The its tendency to flow in the easiest path between usual Stem may extend from t lar er end 0f the slightly separated seating surfaces on the the P member thrOllgh a C v r ember 24 15 upstream side and thence into the line. and packing gland 26 and the pr jectin d of It is an object of this invention to permit lubrithe m ay be s ta y squared for'the cant to flow only to the side of the valve which reception of a Wrench whereby the p y he requires lubricating. rotated in its seat. Another object of the invention is to relieve The foregoing desc bed Structure is common 29 the operator of the responsibility of determining q lubricated p v ves in neral and further whi h id of the valve t l b i t detailed description of the parts is deemed un- Another object of the invention is to permit necessalythe lubricant to flow selectively to one side'of the This invention more Specifically relates o the valve or the other, depending upon the direction lubricating System of the Valve, which in this 25 of t flow of li flu1d stance, includes a pair of diametrically opposite Another object of the invention is to render transverse lubricant grooves 28 each of which is the selective distribution of the lubricant 'enlocated in the Valve Seat above one of the timely automatic passageways and each extending through an the use of a single compressor for feeding the seating surface is further provided with a lubricant to either Side o the va1Ve pair of diametrically opposite transverse lubri- Another object of the invention is to construct cant grooves each located below one of the thelubricant device in a simple manner to perfluid passageways and being otherwise similar to mit economy in manufacture and reliability and the lubricant grooves 28 which are positioned simplicity in operation. above. Furthermore, the valve seat It is proother objects and advantages will become vlded with four longitudinal grooves 32 which parent from the following description taken in are located on each Side of the passageways and connection with the accompanying drawing between the ends of the transverse grooves 28 M) wherein and 30 but terminating short of connection with Fig.1 is. a front elevation of a lubricated plug these tranSVFrSe ereevesl valve embodying the invention and wherein the The groovmg System may be completed by the lubricating device is shown in longitudinal secprovision of eight dwarf grooves four which tion taken on the line l- -l of Fig. 2 looking in the are located above the port 29 in the valve direction .indmated by the arrowsber I8 and the remaining four therebelow. These 45 Fig. 2 isianend e of the valve with the body dwarf grooves 34 are arranged. in such relation portion thereof shown partly in section. to the port 20 that they will overlie the ends of Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3--3 of the transverse grooves 28 and i the long" I Fig 1 looking. in the direction indicated-by the tudinal grooves 3 2 when the valve 1s m full-open arrows and I r or full-closed position and thus form a complete 50 Figs. 4 and 5 are developments of the Seating, and lndependent frame of sealing grooves around Surfaces of the body and plug members of the each of the passageways. In the arrangement described when the valve member 18 is ro at valve respectively showmg the groovmg system in the seat l6 from the full-open or full-clos g In this exemplary embodiment the invention is position the dwarf grooves 34 therein are 1mm 55 pp to a lubricated P Valve- It will be diately disconnected from communication with app e however, a 1155 application t the longitudinal grooves 32 and thus the comlimlted to va ves of this yp wherein p ug plete framing of the passageways is no longer member rotates in its seat, as other types of present. However, during this rotative movelubricated valves, such as gate valves could mentof the plug, two diametrically opposite ion-L60 Another object of the invention is to permit angle of approximately ninety degrees? The '30 r gitudinal grooves will be exposed to the fluid in the line as the port 20 passes across them and consequently, it has been arranged that these exposed grooves shall be cut off from the lubri cant supply during thisperiod. In order to render the. valve rotatable in either clockwise or counter-clockwise direction without exposing any of the lubricant grooves to the fluid in the line, all of the longitudinal grooves 32 are arranged to terminate short of the transverse grooves and thus achieve this object.

The foregoing description of the grooving system for distributing the lubricant over the seating surface of the valve is merely of the form which is preferred for use in this embodiment. It will be understood that the arrangement of the lubricant grooves can be varied providing the grooves at one end of the body do not communicate in the closed position of the valve with those at the other end of the body. When the valve is in closed position and subject to high line pressure on one side of the plug member it is desirable for the reasons previously set forth to lubricate the valve only on the side which is opposite the pressure side and which may be termedthe down-stream side as distinguished from the pressure or upstream side. Moreover, as the direction of the flow of the line fluid through the valve is often changed it is eminently desirable that the lubricant receiving side be changed accordingly. A feature of this invention is that this selective distribution of the lubricant is entirely automatic as will now become apparent.

A structure for accomplishing this purpose may comprise an inverted T-sh-aped fitting having a' head portion 35 secured to a pair of pads 36 formed on the exterior of the body Ill intermediate the ends II and I2, as by means of the studs 38. The head portion 35 issuitably bored to form a blind ended valve chamber 40, the open end of which may be normally closed by a plug member 42. Communicating with the valve chamber 40 adjacent each end thereof is a pair of passageways 44 which in turn communicate with passageways 46 formed in the main valve body Ill and openinginto the fluid passageways therein adjacent the valve seat l6. The head portion 35 is provided with an additional pair of passageways 48 which at one end communicate with the valve chamber 40 at the median portion thereof and being spaced one from the other. The opposite ends of the passageways 48 communicate with passageways 50 formed in the valve body and opening at their opposite ends into the lower transverse lubricant grooves 30 which are formed in the seating surface IS.

The passageways 48 are adapted to supply lubricant' from the valve chamber 48 to the lower transverse grooves 30 by way of the passages 58 and, to this end, the leg 52 of the T-shaped fitting may be provided with a threaded lubricant reservoir 54 in which a compressor screw 56 may be reciprocated to force lubricant therefrom. A suitable check valve 58 may be positioned in the lower portion of the reservoir to prevent reflux .f lubricant therefrom when the compressor screw 58 is removed. The reservoir 54 communicates with the valve chamber 40 by means of a port 60 which extends from the bottom of the reservoir into communication with the valve chamber 40 intermediate the passageways 48 but on the opposite side of the periphery. The area of the port 60 is preferably enlarged at its junction with the periphery of the valve chamber 40 by an elongated recess 62 of suflicient length to include the open ends of both passageways 48 within its boundary for a purpose to be described hereinafter.

The. distribution of lubricant from the reservoir 54 to the passageways 48 is controlled by a spool valve element 64 which is shorter in length than the valve chamber in which it reciprocates but is adapted to extend from one end of the chamber and cover the open ends of both passageways 48. A circumferential recess 66 is formed in the spool valve element 54 intermediate its ends and is adapted to overlie the open end of one of the passageways 48 when the valve element is positioned at one end of the chamber, the open end of the other passageway 48 being covered at this time by the plain portion of the valve element.

The operation of the device is as follows: When the valve is assembled in a-pipe line and closed against pressure, which in this instance, may be in the direction of the arrow in Fig. -l, the line fluid from the upstream side will enter the passageway 44 through the passageway 46 in the valve body I 0 and thus reach the spool valve chamber 40. The spool valve 64 will thereupon assume the position shown in Fig. 1 with one end abutting the left-hand end of the valve chamber 40 and the circumferential recess 66 aligned with the open end of the adjacent passageway 48. This passageway 48 will therefore receive lubricant from the reservoir and will convey it through the connected passageway 50 in the valve body ID 'to the lower transverse groove 30 whereupon it will be distributed to all of the grooves on the downstream side of the valve. As will be observed the spool valve 84 at this time closes off the end of the other passage 48 which opens into the valve chamber 40 and therefore no lubricant can reach the grooves at the upstream side of the valve. In view of the fact that there is no communication between the grooves at the downstream side of the valve with those on the upstream side, none of the lubricant in the downstream grooves can flow from that end of the valve to the other by way of the grooves and dissipate the lubricant pressure.

When the direction of the fluid flow is changed the line pressure will enter the passageway 44 on the opposite side and move the spool valve 64 to the opposite end of the valve chamber. The recess 86 in the spool valve 64 will then be aligned with the open end of' the adjacent passage 48 which communicates with the grooves on the opposite end of the valve which now becomes the downstream side, it being noted that the circumferential recess 66 is always in communica tion with the reservoir 54 due to the provision of the elongated recess 62 at the end of the port 60. Thus, regardless of the direction of the flow of line fluid the part of the seating surfaces which requires lubrication will receive ample lubricant upon operation of the compressor screw as the movement of the valve 64 from oneend of the chamber to the other is entirely automatic in response to the pressure of the line fluid. It will be apparent, therefore, that all the objects and advantages of the invention have been .accomplished in a simple and economical manner.

I claim:

1. In combination, a lubricated valve comprising a body member having passageways for line fluid and a valve seat, a valve member adapted to engage said seat, a lubricant reservoir, and means responsive to the pressure of said line fluid for controlling the distribution of lubricant from intermediate said passageways, a valve member from the upstream passageway and having a pas- 15 adapted'toengag'e said seat, a lubricant reservoir sage therein for lubricant to flow from the inlet having connections with the seating surfaces adto the outlet communicating with the seating sur- Jacent each of said passageways, and means reface adjacent the downstream passageway.

- Si nsive torthe pressure of saldllne fluid for ad- 9. The combinatiorfwith a lubricated valve mitting lubricant to the connection with the seataving a body m mb r provi ed wi h up tream 20 5 4. In combination, a' lubricated valve cornprisgrooves in the seating surfaces of said members 425 i a body member having passageways'for line around each of the upstream and downstream fluid and a valve seat, a valve member adapted to passageways, of means to supply lubricant to the engage said seat, a lubricant reservoir and a valve. frame of grooves around the downstream P responsive' to the pressure of said line fluid for sageway only, said means comprising a T-shaped admitting lubricant fromsaid reservoir to the fitting secured tothe exterior of the'body inter- 3o aromas J said reservoir selectively to the seating surfacesadjacent any one of said passageways.

2. Incombination, a lubricated valve comprising a body member having passageways for'line 5 fluid and a valve seat, a valve member adapted ing admittance to the other connection.

3. In combination, a lubricated valve comprising a body member having upstream -and downstream passageways for line fluid anda valve seat ing surfaces adjacent the downstream passageway while preventing admittance to the connectioh with the seating surface adjacent the upstream passageways seating surfaces adjacent one bf said passageways while preventing admittance to the seating surfaces adjacent another of said passageways.

5. In. combination, a-lubr'icated valve comprisfluid and a valve seat, a valve member adapted to engage saidseat, a lubricant reservoir having connections with the seating surfaces adjacent each of said passageways, and a valve movable by the pressure of said line fluid to a position for admitting lubricant to one of said connections while preventing admittance to the other consageways, and a valve movable by the pressure of said'iijne fluid between the reservoir and the connections for admitting lubricant to one of said connectionswhile preventing admittance to'the other connection.

7. In combination; a lubricated valve comprisg a body member having upstream and downstream passageways for line fluid and a valve bricant to one of said connections while preventing. a body member having passageways for vdine .means for forcing lubricant from said reservoir,

an auxiliary valve body connected to said reservoir, a valve chamber in said auxiliary body having an inlet for lubricantfrom the reservoir intermediate the ends thereof and an outlet for said lubricant between the inlet and each of ing surfaces adjacent the upstream and downstream passageways, said chamber having an p ning at one end thereof communicating with the upstream passageway and an opening at the opposite end" communicating with the downstream passageway, and a valve element movable in the chamber by the pressure of the line fluid and downstream passageways for line fluid and a valve seat, a valve member engaging said seat for controlling the flow of line fluid through said passageways,and an independent frame of-lubricant mediate said passageways, a valve chamber. in

one leg ofsaid fitting having communication at;

one end thereof with said upstream passageway and communication atthe opposite end with said .fluid from the upstream passageway, said valve element providing a passage for lubricant tothe outlet leading to thegrooves' aroundthe downstream passageway while providing a closure for the other said outlet. a

. 10. In combination in a lubricated plug valve, a body member provided with fluid passageways and a valve seat, a valve member engaging said seat, lubricant. grooves in the seating surfaces of said members around the fluid-passageways. said grooves around one of said passageways being unconnected with those aroundanothea, an abutment integral with the casing projecting from one side thereof intermediate the fluidpas sageways and having a seating surface thereon, passages extending through said abutment and said ends, said outlets communicating with theseatseat intermediate said passagewayaa valve member adapted to engage said seat, a lubricant reservoir, an auxiliary valve body associated with.

the casing and communicating with said grooves, passages extending through said abutment and the casing and-communicating with saidv fluid 1 53m i gzg i ggg gg zfig gfi gg passageways, a combined lubricant reserveirand will!!! connections with the seating surfaces advalve chamber unit having seating surface an? cent. each of the passageways. said chamber gaging the seating surface on said abutment and w being adaptedto receive line fluid from one of having passages with the chant her and the passages in the casing, means to sesaid passageways, and avaiveelement movablelim the chamber by'the ,'pressu're of'saidlirfie fluid to aposition for admitting" lubricant to one of said I I eat while preventing admittance to the either1.24;:nnection.

ombinatiomalubricated valve comprising a body member havingupstream and downstream passageways forlline fluidand a valve seat intermediate said passageways-fa. valve member I adapted toengage said seat-alubricaht reservoir,

ALBERT J. HENDERSO N. 

